History was made in early 2010 when Tomas Sanchez became the very first Garífuna in Guatemala to start blogging. If you are interested in learning about the Garífuna on a deeper level, Garifuna culture and spirituality beyond the tourists' vision, then here is where you need to be. Gain insight into the reality of the Garífunas in Livingston and feel free to leave comments. Thank you for visiting.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Duality, Part II

Sat.5/4/14- It is 5:05 in the morning and I’m trying to
capture the moment when I was given the microphone to speak at the opening of
an event that took place in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala yesterday. It was exactly
five months since I mention the experience I had in Tela Honduras on the 4th
November 2013. In this case I would like to recommend for you to read Time and
Place which was posted on my blog on the 12th November 2013.

Be that as it may, my most recent article Duality is a
continuation which I would like to share with you also because the experience I
had at Gotay’s Place on the 3rd November 2014 near the banks of the Chewecha
River is a moment I would like to capture here.

Brother Roy’s role was fundamental for my peace of mind at
Gotay’s Place. There is no doubt in my mind that I was not the only one willing
to continue with the struggle against the great-grandchildren of the
colonizers. However I am not willing to continue with brothers and sisters that
hide behind masks.

The workshop in Puerto Barrios yesterday convinced me that
there is a duality in every aspect of life. In this case, the experience I had
in Puerto Barrios yesterday was a decisive moment for me based on an
observation by someone I have grown to respect, at this moment I will not reveal
my source, however I am willing to go out on a limb to say this “from my point
of view, she is giving us her honest opinion; my understanding is; she is
sharing with us. I was able to put some of the moments I had in Puerto Barrios
under neat my pillow last night because I wanted to organize my thoughts before
anything. I once said that there will come a time when a man has to take a
stand by what he says.

The experience I had in Puerto Barrios Guatemala yesterday,
five months later; after the workshop we had in Honduras last year; allowed me
to take a closer look at what is going on from the inside. I am using the term
inside because I have always been open about my inside journey. Therefore what
I am writing about is a personal experience in three specific areas. The one I
am focusing on here is about my feelings regarding our political process in
Guatemala. I have been a part of a Political process in Labuga for the past ten
years. It was obvious to me that “we the Garífuna people of Guatemala” are on
board a ship that has lost its sense of direction. I was not sure about what my
role was when I got on board on the 12th April 2004. To be realistic I cannot
predict where I will be on the 12th April 2014. Be that as it may, April 12th
1797 should be a day never to be forgotten.